Wollongong is cruising for more business with 6500 more visitors set to sail into Port Kembla

Welcome back: Radiance of the Seas arriving for the first ever cruise ship visit to Port Kembla on October 30, 2016. It will return with close to 2500 passengers on board on January 29, 2018. Picture: Adam McLean.

Businesses in the Wollongong city centre are gearing up for the next cruise ship arrival later this month.

With Radiance of the Seas bring 2400 passengers to Port Kembla when it arrives on the morning of January 29 it will be the first of two cruise ship visits in the next couple of months that will bring close to 6500 visitors to the region.

Inside the maiden cruise ship voyage to Wollongong. Video: Greg Ellis

The second will be the larger Explorer of the Seas on March 18 with close to 4000 passengers.

It is slightly longer than Voyager of the Seas that has already visited twice making Explorer the biggest cruise ship to ever sail into Port Kembla.

The two Royal Caribbean floating resorts are expected to bring more than 600 international visitors to explore the Illawarra region. Around 40 per cent of all passengers are families, 20 per cent young adults, 20 per cent middle aged people and 20 per cent seniors.

Wollongong cruising for more business with 6500 visitors set to sail in

Scenes from Radiance of the Seas arriving for its first visit to Wollongong 15 months ago.

#cruisewollongong project manager Stuart Barnes said all the cruise passengers coming ashore on both visits will be dropped off in the Arts Precinct where they will be welcomed by volunteer ambassadors eager to direct them to whatever they want to do.

He said the ultimate goal with so much pride in the city was to see Wollongong become known internationally as “The Friendly Port”.

“We’ve got 154 cruise ambassadors ready to go this time,” he said.

Mr Barnes said Destination Wollongong was producing a flyer to hand out to Radiance passengers that will promote the city centre. It is interested in hearing from businesses willing to offer exclusive retailer offers to the visitors.

The offers only need to be valid for the one day on January 29 and will be redeemable by coupon only.

Those wishing to take part are invited to send an email to Peita Quarmby at pquarmby@wollongong.nsw.gov.au by January 12 including the name of their store, the contact, the exclusive offer and the terms and conditions.